Neighbors take Tall Stacks
in stride
But one time every 4 years is sufficient

BY JANE PRENDERGAST
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The glow of the Cincinnati skyline illuminates the riverfront at dusk Thursday during the Light Up Cincinnat part of Tall Stacks. (Ernest Coleman Photo)

COVINGTON — This is usually such a quiet, peaceful little corner of the world: brick sidewalks, stately houses more than a century old, enormous potted mums. And the view of Cincinnati skyline — it doesn't get any better.

Then along come a few big boats, and the Licking Riverside neighborhood turns to a crowded, bustling strip of visitors and vendors. While there are advantages to being able to step outside in your slippers and buy a fresh caramel apple, other things become part of life for five days, too — parking headaches, portable potties and elementary-school kids line-dancing to "Rocky Top."

And those calliope songs? These folks now know every tune.

"Yeah, you sorta get calliope-d out after five days," said Tony Beranek, a resident and Tall Stacks volunteer. He's resigned to the downsides of sharing his neighborhood this week while he helps his church group sell stuffed flying pigs and other Cincinnati memorabilia.

"If it happened every year, it would be something we probably couldn't handle," he said. "But every four years isn't so bad."

Ironically, it's precisely the public nature of the neighborhood that kept it as it is. Residents, some of the same ones that still live along Riverside Drive, fought in the late 1960s to keep the area from being taken over for a skyscraper with a marina and revolving restaurant. The Kentucky Supreme Court agreed, declaring the riverfront a public commons.

Some residents are taking advantage of the atmosphere, planning Tall Stacks parties. Attorney Pat Flannery mans a grill today, cooking brats and metts for his courthouse buddies. Trinity Episcopal Church members host a party Saturday. The balconies of Riverside Terrace condominiums were busy Thursday with amateur photographers grabbing the view on film.

City officials tried to be more aware of residents' concerns this year. They mailed out free passes to the event, passed out parking permits and reserved more parking spots. They moved portable toilets away from houses — the Shelby Street residents complained last time about the, uh, scent.

"That was a legitimate concern," said Lois Davis, chairwoman of the Covington Tall Stacks committee and a resident herself.

Otherwise, the Licking Riverside is a peaceful spot. Riverfest fireworks day excepted, of course. So it's easy to get a little spoiled living there, Ms. Davis said.

"But look at this view," she said. "We've gotta share it."